Pest Management Professional • November 2022 • Aprehend

Long Island Bed Bug Inspections uses Aprehend by Conidiotec to take on Cimex lectularius

Scott Palatnik, founder of Long Island Bed Bug Inspections, started out his pest career a little different than most. Palatnik served as a professional chef in New York City, cooking alongside Rachel Ray on the Food Network Channel. In 2010, during the mortgage crisis, Palatnik stepped away from the kitchen and found a passion for helping others overcome their bed bug problems.

After attending numerous bed bug seminars, Palatnik became licensed and started Long Island Bed Bug Inspections. He reports that one product has changed the game: Aprehend by ConidioTec.

“We’ve been using Aprehend for about four years now and have had tremendous success,” Palatnik says. “I saw a demand for effective, organic, non-toxic treatments and I studied up on Aprehend. I did my research and decided it was something I needed in my bed bug arsenal.”

New York City is known for the large amount of housing and buildings such as condominiums, co-ops, rental buildings, movie theaters, hospitals, schools, offices and more — but for Palatnik, this offers more opportunity than challenge.

“New York City has a huge market and lots of opportunities for both commercial and residential,” Palatnik says. “We do everything bed bug-related from a to z. The challenge is that there are limited ways to treat bed bugs. With Aprehend, it allows me to offer a service that I haven’t been able to before, and it’s one that I trust.”

For Palatnik, a standout aspect of Aprehend is that it is organic and falls into a multitude of treatment protocols at Long Island Bed Bug Inspections.

“Aprehend is nice because I can use it as a standalone treatment. I could go in and spray in offices, for example, and individuals don’t get exposed to pesticides,” Palatnik says. “Aprehend also gives me the ability to keep my customers ahead of the curve.

“I would rather be proactive than reactive,” he adds. “Aprehend can be used proactively, and quarterly applications can greatly reduce incidents of bed bug infestation. It can also mean recurring income, which is key to running a successful operation.”

For those looking to try Aprehend, Palatnik’s advice is simple. “When you need to get the job done, Aprehend fits the bill,” he says. “In addition, the people at ConidioTec are extremely effective. They are always willing to answer questions and help you out whenever you need it.”

WAR STORY: Scott Palatnik, owner of Long Island Bed Bug Inspections, used Aprehend by ConidioTec in a very infested condominimum in the upper west side of New York City. The results did not disappoint.

When Palatnik and his team first arrived at the condo, the unit was heavily cluttered and had a major bed bug infestation. They performed a heat treatment, and followed up the next day with Aprehend.

Two weeks later, the team returned to the unit and as Palatnik reports, “Lo and behold, despite the heavy clutter and the level of infestation, there was not a live bed bug to be found. This was when we first knew we were onto something great.”

Aprehend is non-toxic and has a residual effect that lasts up to three months, and Palatnik says it has become an integral part of his company’s bed bug treatment protocols.

“As a bonus, I can offer it as a quarterly service — which keeps them protected year-round and boosts my revenue,” he says. “The bottom line is that Aprehend works and is close to 100 percent effective in the battle against bed bugs. It’s a win-win for both us and our customers, and we love that. “As we like to say around the office, ‘Another day, another bed bug job, another bottle of Aprehend, and another satisfied customer.’”